The Employment Picture Improves Around the Lakes

The unemployment rate around the Brainerd Lakes area has improved over the past month. In Crow Wing county it has improved by more than a full percentage point from June to July, dropping from 9.4 to 8.3 percent. Out of a workforce of 35,500, nearly 32,600 held a job. However, the unemployment rate in July was still more than 2 percent higher than the same period a year ago.

The employment picture was also better in Cass County, Morrison and Aitkin Counties, but not by as much as in Crow Wing.

The highest unemployment rate, in July, was in Morrison county at 10.4 percent.